Sprayer or atomizer



Nov. 14, 1961 M. FOLLAIN 3,008,651

SPRAYER OR ATOMIZER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 5, 1960 Fig. 2

I 16 I; 12 g 9 f r-zz Nov. 14, 1961 M. FOLLAIN SPRAYER OR ATOMIZER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 5, 1960 United States Patent Ofice 3,008,651 SPRAYER OR ATOMIZER Marcel Follain, Courbevoie, France, assignor to Societe Technique de Pulverisation (par abreviation Step), Pantin, France, a company of France Filed Jan. 5, 1960, Ser. No. 646 Claims priority, application France Jan. 17, 1959 7 Claims. (Cl. 239-353) This invention relates to sprayers, or atomizers, of the kind wherein a fine spray of a fluid, generally a liquid, is produced by entrainment of the fluid in air or some other gas. The invention more particularly relates to the type of sprayer or atomizer attachment which is adapted to be connected with the opening of a container, such as a phial of perfume, or insecticide composition, in order to permit spraying the contents of the container.

It is an object of the invention to provide such a sprayer wherein the entraining gas is normally held out of contact from the fluid to be sprayed. In the sprayer of the invention the fluid and the entraining gas are normally maintained sealed from each other and sealed from the spray nozzle until the actual time that a spray is to be produced. This ensures that the physical and chemical characteristics of certain sensitive fluids, such as perfumes, will be retained unimpaired for long periods of time.

Another object is to provide a sprayer attachment part of which is provided in the form of a detachable receptacle containing a charge of compressed gas for use as the entraining gas, which receptacle is adapted, when exhausted, to be replaced by a fresh or refill receptacle; and which sprayer attachment will, for example in case a refill receptacle is not immediately available, still be operable for spraying purposes (though at a reduced spraying rate) in the absence of a gas receptacle, by the use of atmospheric air.

A sprayer according to the invention may comp-rise a body adapted for attachment to a container of fluid to be sprayed, e.g. to the neck of a phial; a spray nozzle mounted outwardly of the body and having a passage for the fluid and an adjacent passage for gas to entrain the fluid; a receptacle containing a charge of compressed gas mounted (preferably removably) on the body for movement relative to it; a normally-sealed first opening providing, when open, communication from the container to said fluid passage of the nozzle; a normally-sealed second opening providing, when open, communication from the receptacle to said gas passage of the nozzle, whereby both the fluid and the gas are normally sealed from each other and from the nozzle; and actuating means (such as a common valve shank) operable on movement of the receptacle in 'a predetermined direction relative to the body in opposition to spring bias, for opening both said first and second openings thereby to deliver said fluidand gas to the respective nozzle passages and discharge a spray from the nozzle.

According to an important feature of the invention the body preferably includes a compression chamber which communicates with the gas passage of the spray nozzle, a piston is slidable in the chamber, and means are provided for displacing the piston to compress some air in the chamber and direct such air to the gas discharge passage of the nozzle thereby to produce a spray from the nozzle even in the absence of compressed gas in the receptacle.

In one embodiment of the invention including this preferred feature, the piston is movable bodily at all times with the receptacle. In another embodiment, the piston is normally held stationary on movement of the receptacle and separate means are provided for moving the piston only when an exhausted gas receptacle has been removed from the attachment.

3,008,651 Patented Nov. 14, 1961 The invention will now be described for purposes of illustration but not of limitation with .reference to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an axial cross section of a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a similar view of a second embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the piston plate of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but in the condition where an exhausted gas receptacle has been replaced by an auxiliary member for operating the sprayer in absence of gas pressure.

As shown in FIG. 1, the sprayer comprises a generally cylindrical body 1 adapted to be secured over a container of a body of liquid to be sprayed, e.g, by means of the screw threads shown at the top of the figure cooperating with corresponding threads formed around the neck of a phial. Slidably mounted in this body is a piston assembly which comprises a flanged piston plate 2 and a cylindrical receptacle 4 coaxially and rigidly secured thereto. For this purpose the receptacle 4 includes an end plate sealing that end of it directed towards the piston plate 2 which end plate includes a sleeve 5 projecting into the receptacle and formed with an internal screw threaded aperture screwed round a threaded boss 3 projecting from the central area of the piston plate 2 as shown. Between the adjacent radial surfaces of the piston plate 2 and the receptacle 4 is a compression seal ring 6, and further a piston seal 7 is seated against the outer face of the piston ring 2 and has its peripheral flange frictionally engaging the inner surface of the body 1. Formed across the body 1 is a transverse wall 8 which defines with the piston seal 7 a compression chamber 9, and a compression spring 26 acts between the wall 8 and the piston seal 7. The wall 8 is formed with an axial opening 10 communicating with the chamber 9 and communicating through a radial duct 11 with a spray nozzle 12 in the form of a threaded insert screwed into a side of the body 1. The nozzle 12 is formed with a Venturi type duct, as shown, and it will be seen that the wall 8 has a projecting nose through which the reduced outer end part of the radial duct 11 is formed, so that this duct actually opens near the neck of the Venturi nozzle. The

wall 8 is so shaped as to define an annular passage 13 communicating with the chamber 9 adjacent the inner surface of body 1, and this passage 13 likewise communicates with the Venturi in the spray nozzle 12-.

Extending through the opening 10 in the wall 8 is -a valve shank 14 having a pair of valve heads 15 and 16 secured or formed on its opposite ends to either side of the plate 8 so as to cooperate with the respective ends of the opening 10 in it by way of sealing gaskets 17 and 18. It will be noted that the valve shank 14 is greater in length than the thickness of the wall 8 and also that its diameter is smaller than that of the opening 10 in the wall. Secured to the inner end of the valve shank 14 in' coaxial alignment with it, e.g., by screwing into a threaded recess of this shank, is a further valve shank 19 which extends axially through the chamber 9 and through the boss 3 of the piston plate 2 and carries on its far end a valve head 20 which cooperates, by way of a valve gasket 21, with the end of the opening in boss 3. The sleeve 5 has a transversewall formed across it toward the outer end of it and the wall is formed with a hole 24. A valve ball 22 is movably retained in the space defined, beyond the aperture 24 by the wall and an end stop 23, which ball is able to plug the hole 24 as shown. The valve shank 19 carries a projecting stud 25 beyond valve head 20, the stud being adapted to actuate ball 22 to push it against the stop 23 thereby unplugging the hole 24.

A compression spring 27 lighter than the spring 26 is interposed between the piston plate 2 and the valve head 16.

In operation, the receptacle 4 is charged with a body of gas under pressure, e.g., compressed air, and the body 1 is secured to the neck of a phial of liquid to be sprayed. The normal position of the assembly is that shown in the drawing, i.e., standing on the fiat end wall of the receptacle 4 and with the phial of liquid (not shown) on top. In the initial condition the spring 26 urges the sliding assembly including piston plate 2 and receptacle 4 outwardly relative to the body 1 so that the upper valve head 15 makes sealing engagement with the opening and the lowermost valve head 20 makes sealing engagement with the end of the hole in the boss 3, while the intermediate valve head 16 is unseated from its related end of the opening 10. The ball 22 is held in sealing engagement with the hold 24 due to the gas pressure in receptacle 4. In these conditions therefore the fluid in the container and the pressure gas in the receptacle 4 are each held in tightly sealed condition both from one another and from the outer atmosphere.

To use the spray, finger pressure is applied to the outer end of the receptacle 4, that is, to the bottom thereof, as indicated by the arrow F. As the sliding receptable is thus pushed inwards of the body against spring 26 the first result is to unseat the valve head from the outer end of opening 10, while the other end valve head 21 remains applied against its seat in boss 3 owing to the action of spring 27. Inward movement of the piston plate 2 acts to compress the air entrapped within the chamber 9 and expel some of this air into the liquid-container through the hole 10 and the unseated valve head 15. As the inward motion of receptacle 4 and piston plate 2 is continued, valve head 16 engages the inner end of opening 19 thereby sealing the chamber -9 and limiting the amount of air admitted into the container. The valve 15 remains unseated so that a small volume of liquid substantially equal to the volume of air expelled into the container is able to flow into opening 10 and radial duct 11 in readiness to be sprayed out through nozzle 12.

Further inward movement of the sliding assembly now compresses spring 27 since the valve shank 19-14 must remain stationary in view of the engagement between valvehead 16 and wall 8. The projection 25 on the valve shank therefore forces ball 22 off its seat 24 and against abutment 23 whereupon the slidable assembly cannot be moved further. Opening of the valve 2l422 allows com pressed gas from receptacle 4 to pass through the interior of boss 3 into chamber 9 and annular opening 13 at the neck of the venturi in the spray nozzle 12, and this gas flow entrains with it and vaporizes (or atomizes,) the liquid issuing from passage 11 in the well-known manner. The spraying action goes on so long as the receptacle 4 is kept depressed. On release the parts are restored to their initial positions by the action of the two springs.

When the charge of compressed gas in receptacle 4 is exhausted, it may be removed by screwing it off the boss 3 and a fresh charged receptacle screwed on instead. During these operations piston plate 2 may be retained against rotation by some suitable means such as insertion of a pin through the registering holes 28 and 29 in the piston flange and in body 1.

It is observed that even in the absence of a refill receptacle 4, substantial spraying action can still be achieved with the device as described above under the sole action of the compressed air in chamber 9 when the piston 2 is depressed.

In the modified embodiment of FIG. 2, the general arrangement is similar and corresponding parts have been given the same reference numbers, including the threaded body 1, gas receptacle 4, upper valvehead 15 and spring 26 urging this valvehead against its seat. In this construction however the receptacle 4 instead of being screwed on a boss integral with the piston plate, as in FIG. 1, is screwed on a separate threaded boss 33 extending through a hole in an end cap 32 screwed over the end of body 1. Normally seated against the inner face of end cap 32 around shank 33 is a piston plate '30 having a seal ring 7 applied thereon. A hat-shaped plate 31 overlies the upper end face of boss 33 and the seal ring 7 and serves to seat one end of spring 26 the other end of which is seated against cross wall 8 as in FIG. 1. Slidable in an axial bore of the boss 33 is a shank 19 corresponding to the similarly numbered shank in FIG. 1, but here formed with an axial duct 34 connected through radial ducts 36 near one end with a chamber 37 defined in the receptacle beyond ball 22, and through radial ducts 35 near the other end with the chamber 9.

A lug 38 struck out of the piston plate 30 engages a notch in end cap 3-2 to prevent rotation of the piston plate and another lug or projection 40 of the piston plate engages a keyway of boss 33 to prevent relative rotation of the boss and receptacle 4 secured thereto.

In the operation of this embodiment, depression of receptacle 4 displaces the hat-shaped plate 31 but does not displace the piston plate 30 (with its seal 7 which remains applied against the end cap 32 and does not, in fact, behave as a piston in this phase of operation. In other respects operation is similar to that of the first embodiment, in that valve head 15 is initially unseated to allow liquid to pass towards the inlet of nozzle 12. Thereafter valve head 16 is seated and ball 22 is unseated to discharge a blast of compressed air from receptacle 4, through orifices 36, 34, 35 and chamber 9 into the venturi of nozzle 12 to produce the desired spray.

It will be noted that during depression of receptacle 4 the gas pressure is applied only to an area of the piston plate 31 equal to the cross-sectional area of boss 33, so that the muscular effort required to displace the receptacle is low.

In this construction, when a receptacle 4 is exhausted and a fresh one is not immediately available, an auxiliary member 42 (see FIG. 4) may be provided to be screwed on boss 33 in place of the exhausted receptacle. The diameter of the member 42 is small enough to pass through the opening 39 in the end cap 32 and to engage the piston plate 30. Thus in this condition pressure on member 42 will displace the piston to compress some air in chamber 9 and permit limited spraying action without the benefit of a charged compressed-air receptacle, just as in the first embodiment.

It will be apparent that various embodiments of the in vention other than the two shown may be conceived.

What I claim is:

l. A sprayer comprising a body adapted for attachment to a container of fluid to be sprayed and defining a stopper for the container and a compression chamber, a spray nozzle opening outwardly from said body and having a first passage for the fluid extending through said stopper to communicate the container with the nozzle and a second passage for compressed gas opening from said chamber adjacent said first passage to entrain the fluid from the latter, first valve means normally closing said first passage, a receptacle containing a charge of compressed gas, means mounting said receptacle for movement relative to said body, means defining an opening between said receptacle and said chamber, second valve means normally closing said opening, valve actuating means movable parallel to the direction of movement of said receptacle and operable in response to said movement to open said first and second valve means so that fluid and compressed gas are supplied to said first and second passages and the fluid issues as a spray from said nozzle, a piston movable in said chamber parallel to said direction of movement of said valve actuating means, and means operative to displace said piston with said valve actuating means so that said piston compresses air in said chamber for discharge through said second passage of the nozzle, thereby to efiect spraying of the fluid even in the absence of compressed gas in said receptacle.

2. A sprayer as in claim 1; wherein said means operative to displace the piston includes a structural connection between said receptacle and said piston so that the latter moves with said receptacle.

3. A sprayer as in claim 1; wherein said receptacle is removable from said mounting means therefor, and further comprising a piston actuator interchangeable with said receptacle on said mounting means and engageable with said piston to constitute said means operative to displace the piston.

4. A sprayer as in claim 1; wherein said valve actuating means includes a valve stem movable in said body and movable to a limited extent relative to said mounting means for the receptacle, said second valve means being carried by said receptacle and being opened by said valve stem upon movement of the receptacle with its mounting means relative to said valve stem, and said first valve means being fixedly connected to said valve stem and opened by the latter upon movement of the valve stem relative to said body.

5. A sprayer as in claim 4; further comprising resilient means urging said valve stem to move with said mounting means for the receptacle, and means limiting the movement of said valve stem with said mounting means so that, upon movement of said receptacle, said second 6 valve means opens after the opening of said first valve means.

6. A sprayer as in claim 5; wherein said first passage of the nozzle also has an additional opening into said chamber; and further comprising third valve means which is normally open and which is fixed on said valve stem to close said additional opening following opening of said first valve means.

7. A sprayer as in claim 6; wherein said means operative to displace the piston includes a structural connection between said receptacle and said piston so that the latter moves with said receptacle to supply air under pressure to the fluid in the container during the interval when said first and third valve means are simultaneously opened.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 746,866 Moore Dec. 15, 1903 2,712,472 Florjancic July 5, 1955 2,918,221 Viard Dec. 22, 1959 2,921,711 Mack Jan. 19, 1960 

